Chapter 2: A Village by the Sea
The dirt road crunched under Boris's footsteps as he walked toward the village. Each step felt surreal, like he was walking deeper into a dream he never wanted to wake up from.
Foosha Village was smaller than he imagined. Wooden houses lined the path, their rooftops patched from years of storms. Smoke rose from chimneys, carrying the scent of baked bread and cooked fish. Children ran past him, chasing each other with sticks, their laughter echoing across the open fields.
Boris swallowed hard. His heart thudded in his chest.
This is real. This is actually real.
The villagers didn't seem to notice anything strange about him. He still wore his soaked hoodie and sneakers from Earth, but to them, he must've just looked like another wanderer.
"Oi! Traveler!" a cheerful voice called out.
Boris turned. Behind the counter of a small tavern stood a young woman with chestnut hair tied in a ponytail. Her green eyes were kind, curious. She waved at him warmly.
Makino.
Boris's breath caught. He had seen her countless times in the anime—Luffy's caretaker, the gentle bartender who treated pirates and villagers alike with kindness. And now, she was smiling at him.
"You look exhausted," she said. "Come inside, have something to eat. First meal's on the house."
Boris hesitated, then nodded. "Uh—yeah. Thanks."
Inside, the tavern smelled of ale and grilled fish. The wooden walls were decorated with maps and old trinkets from sailors. Boris slid into a seat near the counter. His stomach growled loudly—reminding him he hadn't eaten since before the chase back in his old world.
Makino returned with a steaming bowl of stew and a loaf of bread. "Here you go. Eat up."
Boris nearly cried at the taste. The stew was simple—potatoes, carrots, fish—but to him, it was heaven.
"You're not from around here, are you?" Makino asked, wiping down a glass.
Boris froze, spoon halfway to his mouth.
"Uh… yeah. I'm just… traveling."
Her eyes softened. She didn't pry further. "Foosha doesn't get many travelers. You're welcome to stay a while."
Relief washed over him. Thank god. At least she's not suspicious.
But then, before he could relax, the tavern door banged open.
"Makino! I'm hungry again!"
A small boy with messy black hair stormed in, his straw hat bouncing on his back. His round eyes sparkled with boundless energy, his grin wide and carefree.
Boris nearly dropped his spoon.
Luffy.
Monkey D. Luffy. The future Pirate King. Right there, standing in front of him, no older than seven.
"Luffy," Makino scolded gently. "You just ate an hour ago!"
"But I'm still hungry!" Luffy pouted, puffing out his cheeks.
Boris's heart raced. This was surreal beyond belief. He was staring at the very boy who would one day shake the entire world.
Makino sighed, setting a small plate of food on the counter. "Here. But don't cause trouble."
Luffy grabbed it eagerly, then noticed Boris. He tilted his head, curious.
"Hey, who're you?"
Boris's throat went dry. He forced a smile. "Uh… just a traveler."
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Traveler? That's cool! Are you a pirate?!"
Boris choked on his stew. "W-what? No!"
Luffy slammed his hands on the counter, grinning. "I'm gonna be a pirate one day! The King of the Pirates!"
Boris felt his chest tighten. Hearing it—really hearing it—from Luffy's mouth was different from watching it in anime. The boy's dream wasn't just words. It was raw, burning conviction.
And Boris, sitting there, realized he was now part of this world where dreams could conquer the seas.
He smiled softly. "Yeah… I believe you will."
Luffy blinked, then grinned even wider.
Before the moment could sink in, the tavern door slammed again. This time, an older man stomped in, face red with annoyance. His gray hair was slicked back, his mustache twitching in frustration.
Mayor Woop Slap.
"Luffy! Causing trouble again?" he barked.
"Nope!" Luffy said with a mouth full of food.
The mayor groaned. His eyes then landed on Boris. "And who's this?"
Makino quickly intervened. "Just a traveler passing through. Be nice, Mayor."
Woop Slap squinted at Boris but said nothing more, muttering under his breath as he shuffled to a table.
Boris let out a silent sigh of relief.
Still, he knew he couldn't relax for long. He had his wish power, but if anyone noticed something strange, questions would follow. Questions he wasn't ready to answer.
I need to keep a low profile.
As the evening settled, Boris stepped outside. The sunset painted the sky in hues of orange and gold, waves glistening under its glow. Children laughed in the distance, chasing each other by the docks.
Boris clenched his fists.
"This is it," he whispered. "This is where my journey starts. But I can't just waste this chance… I need a plan."
The One Piece world was vast, dangerous, and full of opportunities. He had his power—his greatest weapon—but he couldn't rely on it blindly. If he wanted to sail the seas, he needed allies. He needed strength.
And most of all—he needed to decide what kind of life he would carve in this world of dreams.
Behind him, Luffy's laughter echoed, carefree and wild.
Boris smiled faintly.
"Yeah," he murmured. "Maybe I'll start right here… in Foosha Village."
The night wind carried the scent of the ocean. The adventure had truly begun.